I sighed as I took a seat on the bus, on my way to work. I always enjoyed the ride there; it gave me a chance to clear my mind and people-watch for the journey, preparing myself for the busy and tiring night ahead. I stretched my legs, tired from college all day, and knowing I would be on my feet all night.

Despite my fatigue, I was in a good mood, happily watching the city pass by and enjoying the warm, late spring weather. I moved my attention from the window to the door as the bus stopped, allowing people to get on. I watched as an old man pottered on first, a middle-aged woman following him, and just behind her two young men, talking amicably as they strolled on.

Both were evidently attractive, but my eyes lingered on the taller one. He had light brown hair framing his forehead and smooth skin, his facial features almost making him appear godly as they spread into a beautiful smile. They took a seat in front of me, their backs to me as they continued their conversation.

Unintentionally, I began to listen to what they were saying, my attention automatically drawn to them.

“Okay, Yoongi, listen to this one,” the taller one started, already grinning, “how does a penguin build its house?” His friend simply sighed in response, looking out of the window. “Igloos it together!” He exclaimed, letting out a loud, squeaky laugh and clapping his hands together.

I grinned at the joke, knowing they couldn’t see me. I had an easy sense of humour, and puns were my weakness. ‘Yoongi’ didn’t even bat an eyelid at the joke, remaining completely deadpan, but the tall one didn’t seemed phased by this reaction. In fact, his failure to elicit a reaction in his friend only seemed to encourage him as he continued.

“Hey, did you hear about the kidnapping?” He asked, giggling.

“No.” His friend said, sounding completely unamused and sick of puns.

“Well, don’t worry, he woke up.” His doe eyes turned to crescents, his body shaking as he chuckled. I had to stifle a laugh at that one, leaning back and smirking. I admired his willpower; determinedly continuing despite his friend’s obvious disinterest. Again, the other boy barely reacted.

They then began another conversation, discussing what they would do that night. I was still listening to them (reassuring myself that it would be pretty hard for me not to, considering how close they were sitting to me), and though not staring obviously, I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes off the taller boy as he spoke. The late afternoon sun leaking through the bus windows lit up his features, making his hair appear golden and his skin glowing. I dragged my gaze away and looked out of the window, listening as they discussed which restaurant to visit later.

“Should we go to that new place down the road? Their cold noodles are supposed to be really good.” The smaller boy was contemplating, scrolling through his phone.

“That reminds me,” started the taller one, “what do you call a fake noodle?” His friend groaned, and I couldn’t help but to smile.

“I don’t care.” Yoongi continued to look at his phone. I leant forward, excited for the answer.

“An impasta!” He finished the joke, clapping his hands. I couldn’t help the barking laugh that escaped my lips for a second before I clapped a hand over my mouth. My face heated up as I realised how loud it had been. Both boys whipped their heads around, the one who told the joke grinning at me.

“Sorry,” I giggled, waving my hand, “that was a really good joke.” He beamed at me, still laughing himself.

“Right? See, Yoongi, someone with a real sense of humour!” He said triumphantly, gesturing towards me, and I blushed. Yoongi just shook his head at the both of us, giving me a small, polite smile, before returning to finding a restaurant on his phone. The other one turned back to me, a friendly smile gracing his features.

“Do you know any jokes?” He asked after a moment. I racked my brains for a good pun, wanting to keep the conversation going with him.

“Okay, what do you call an elephant that doesn’t matter?” I questioned, already smiling as I thought about the answer. He pondered it for a second, before shaking his head.

“I don’t know.”

“An irrelephant.” I answered, and he immediately erupted into laughter, clapping his hands together. I beamed, proud of myself for making him laugh. I was surprised to see Yoongi turn around briefly with a small grin at my joke too. This immediately offended the taller one.

“Ya, why do you laugh at her jokes but not at mine?” He demanded, his eyes growing wide. Yoongi scoffed as I watched on with amusement.

“Her jokes are better than yours.” He replied bluntly, and received another outraged look from the boy next to him, who then turned to me, ignoring the comment.

“That was a good one. What’s your name?” He chuckled.

“I’m Y/N.” I returned his smile.

“Jin,” he gestured to himself, “and Yoongi.” He pointed to his darker haired friend. “Nice to meet you.”

Finally, he had a name. I looked at him, taking in his soft features and open face. It suited him.

We continued to chat good-naturedly as the bus rattled around the city, my forearms now resting on the backs of their chairs as I leaned forward. Yoongi turned out to be a lot friendlier than he looked, and Jin was just as enigmatic as he seemed from an outside perspective. I found myself frowning, disappointment filling me as I saw my bus stop looming ahead.

I needed to find a way to see him again. Thinking quickly, I pulled out a scrap of paper and scribbled something down, leaning on the empty seat next to me. I stood up as the bus slowed to a stop, stumbling a bit and holding onto a pole for support.

“This is my stop, but I couldn’t help but to overhear that you guys are looking for a place to eat.” I grinned, handing Jin the piece of paper. “This is the restaurant I work at. It’s pretty good.” I heard the bus doors open behind me. “Stop by if you feel like it. I’m working all night.”

I got off before I could hear a reply, watching him grin at me through the window as the bus drove off, my own cheeks still stretched into a cheerful smile.

Later that evening as I waited tables, I kept getting distracted by watching the door for the people coming in, hoping to see Jin’s face amongst the swarms of customers entering. I bit my lip, trying to catch a glance of him as I took orders and hurriedly laid places.

“Y/N, can you focus please? What is up with you today?” My colleague asked irritably, her arms laden with dishes as she pointed to the table that needed to be cleared. I shook my head, apologising.

“Yes, sorry, nothing.” I sighed, quickly moving to pick up empty dishes. I carried them back to the bar, seeing her shake her head in annoyance, frowning at the door.

“Look,” she nodded to the door, “flip a coin to decide who takes them?”

I looked to the entrance to see a boisterous group of young men, talking loudly and laughing; the type of customers you didn’t want to be in charge of. However, I immediately recognised Yoongi at the front of the group, his distinctive hair and piercing gaze separating him easily from the average customer, and next to him, a taller, more familiar boy. Jin noticed me quickly and met my gaze, waving across the room. I grinned, patting my colleague’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it.” I made my way over to them, smirking.

“Good evening gentlemen.” I said, giving them all menus but repeatedly meeting Jin’s gaze as I did so. I briefly looked around at the six other boys, recognising only Yoongi, and receiving smiles from all of them.

“Y/N,” my attention was brought back to Jin. He pretended to look at the menu for a while before looking up. “why couldn’t the bicycle stand up by itself?” I supressed a smile, pretending to think for a moment.

“…is it because it was two tired?” I asked innocently, watching as his face dropped. His expression of shock was priceless, and I laughed along with the six others, who immediately began teasing him.

“You’ve been practicing.” He narrowed his eyes at me, grinning.

“Well, I had to, to keep up with you.” I flirted back, and he simply stared back with a small grin. I felt his eyes on me as I took their orders and went to serve other tables, the smile barely leaving my face.

I got reprimanded several times by colleagues as I spent most of the night by their table, exchanging puns with Jin and joking around with the others, and only leaving when I was afraid I would actually lose my job. All seven of them gave off an aura of sincerity and humility that drew me towards them, but the energy between Jin and I was something that was impossible to describe; I couldn’t seem to stay away from him.

At the end of my shift, they finally decided it was time to leave. The other boys waved goodbye, giving me a generous tip before walking out, still talking and laughing loudly. Jin was the last to leave the table, and he stayed sitting as I cleared it around him.

“Can I help you?” He asked, reaching for some plates, but I slapped his hand away.

“No, Jin, it’s literally my job.” I chuckled. “Besides, my manager will think I’m slacking if he sees a customer helping me.” He nodded understandingly, resting his chin in his hands and watching me for a moment, a small smile on his face. Once I had finished wiping the table he stood up and walked around it, coming to stand very close to me. I had to crane my neck upwards to see him, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body as he peered down at me.

I waited for him to say something as he seemed to just be studying my face. I distracted myself, putting my notebook away and wiping my hands on a cloth, before he finally spoke.

“So Y/N.” I looked up and met his intense gaze, my breath catching in my throat. He cocked his head to the side, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Do you like raisins?”

I frowned for a second, before smiling dejectedly; that hadn’t been what I was expecting him to say, but how could I expect anything else but another pun? I sighed patiently, giving him a small smile.

Tony kinda maybe thinks makeup looks really pretty. Not just on girls–though it does, absolutely!–but in the way that makes his fingers itch with the urge to try out himself. He’s not sure it really would be for him but Pepper’s lipstick always looks incredible and he’d really like to try those smokey eyes Natasha mentioned and well.

It takes him four months to work up the courage to ask Jan about it and he’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown by the time he’s got the “Would you mind showing me how to do basic makeup” out without stuttering.

Jan of course is over the moon.

It’s not just that she loves makeup and loves styling her friends, though that’s part of it. But no, the most important thing is that Tony is asking her for advice regarding something people usually scoff at or ridicule, maybe in rare cases tolerate. Jan isn’t stupid, she sees every eye-roll her raving about the newest eyeshadow palette from Maybelline gains. So this? A genuine (if shy slash terrified) request for help? It means a lot.

Naturally she drags Tony to the closest drugstore as soon as school lets out.

After a long moment of contemplation she stops in front of one of the shelves with a decisive nod.

“Alright,” Jan says. “Let’s start with mascara.”

She gestures wildly at the shelf, filled with products in all kinds of forms and colours.

“Here we’ve got black, brown, orange–you’re only gonna wear that to a costume if ever, got that Tony, I’m serious–oh, and that’s waterproof, here we got the smudgeproof ones, but be warned, they’re never as smudge-proof as advertised. That over there is black and white, and here we’ve got lengthening, curling and volumizing ones.”

Jan blinks back. Doesn’t laugh (see, this is why he went to Jan with this).

“Mascara is used to enhance the eyelashes,” she explains, followed by, “You know what, we’re just gonna take one of each of them.”

Tony doesn’t think he needs fourteen different mascaras but he gets distracted by the nail polish. There are a lot of different colours available and there are so many reds and golds and one of them looks like liquid metal.

Needless to say, they buy a lot more than just fourteen mascaras.

*

One day Tony is gonna wear bright orange mascara and though Jan will wail and beg and theatrically shudder, she will also throw a bottle of nail polish remover in the face of anyone who dares to make a face. Because it’s taken Tony a long time to become so comfortable and confident where makeup is involved and Jan is invested.

I made a small handers comic for a con last month and thought I’d share it here as well! it was originally in korean, but I tried my best to make it sound halfway coherent in english, (fingers crossed) so I hope it worked!